Father Theobald Mathew first made his mark in history in mid 1839, when he signed up as a member of the Teetotalists. The makers of the Cork Total Abstinence Society. Even though he wasn't a creator of the society, he was a very large staple in the fame of the group. People flocked to his sermons and speeches on how people should abstain from any “intoxicating liquor(Maguire).” Mathew's sermons eventually led to such a religious following of the Total Abstinence Society that the liquor sales of Ireland had literally halved. He was received really well in Britain, and gained over 600,000 followers there(Thomas). Even though he died in 1854, his work was still affecting millions. His strides towards abstinence were legendary, almost revolutionary.
Works Cited
Hayden, John Augustine. "Theobald Mathew." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 26 Feb. 2012 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10047a.htm>. “Theobald Mathew.” LibraryIreland.com. n.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2012.
Works Cited
Hayden, John Augustine. "Theobald Mathew." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 26 Feb. 2012 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10047a.htm>.
“Theobald Mathew.” LibraryIreland.com. n.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2012.